Parachute release



April 10, 1945. J. L. DE FREITAS PARACHUTE RELEASE Filed Jan. 1, 1944 Mama Patented Apr. 10, 1945 7 PARACHUTE RELEASE Joseph Lino De Freitas,

of one-half to' Specialized Engineering Company, Fresno, Calif a limited partnership composed of Charles G. Connors, W. B. Kyle, and

Robert Hoey Fresno, Calif assignor Application January 1, 1944, Serial No. 516,624

10 Claims. (Cl. 294-83) This invention relates in general to a parachute release, and in particular the invention .is directed to, and it is an object to provide, a connecting device adapted to be interposed between the parachute and the load, and operative upon landing of the load to quickly release the parachute, with attendant advantages. One of such advantages is that the load, after landing, cannot be injured due to the parachute dragging the load over the ground, and which would otherwise occur if windy at the point of landing. The device is adapted for use wherein the load is either a person or a parcel of material, and is especially adapted to military operations which require quick release of the parachute from the .load.

A further object of the invention is to provide a parachute release, as above, which includes safety means operative to assure against release of the device prematurely; the device beingarranged so that the releasing mechanism cannot function until the load i suspended from the parachute and is subsequently relieved by said load landing on the ground. I

A further object of the invention is to produce a simple and inexpensive device, and yetone which will be exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects I accomplish by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawing similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views:

Figure 1, is a sectional elevation ShOWillg the device assembled, but before movement of the locking plate to locked positio Figure 2 is a sectional elevation of the device assembled and with the locking plate in locked position. ,v

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the device as supporting the load from the parachute; the position of the parts being shown in dotted lines.

Figure 4 is a sectional elevation showing the parts of the device at the moment of release.

Figure 5 i a cross section on line 5-5 ofzFig. 2.

Referring now more particularly to the-"cha acters of reference on the drawing, thedevice comprises a pair of flat, elongated plates land 2 having substantially parallel sides and which, when in assembly, are disposed in alined end to end relation; the upper plate I being the lockin plate, and the lower plate 2 being the release and load supporting plate. The plates I and Z are formed at their outer ends with attachment eyes attachment to the parachute, whilethe eye 4 is adapted for attachment to the load.

A pair of open ended, vertically elongated, inwardly facing channels 5 are normally disposed in matching edge to edge engagement, and at their upper ends are formed with upwardly projecting pairs of cars 6 Whichare extensions of the sides 1 of said channels. Cross pins 3 connect the ears 5 of each pair, and said pins ride in corresponding longitudinally elongated slots 9 cut in v the locking plate in spaced, parallel relation.

The plates I and 2 are normally in end to end engagement and are straddled and substantially enclosed by the channels 5; the plate 2 having a centrally disposed upstanding pilot finger In which slidably engages in a matching, downwardly opening guide-way I I formed in the plate I.

On opposite sides of the guide-way I I, and inwardly of the sides of plate I, the latter is formed with downwardly opening notches I3 corresponding and vertically alined with slots 9. Cross pins I4 are secured between the sides I of the channel 5 and seat in said notches l3 when the cross pins 8 are engaged in the upper ends of slots 9.

Leaf springs I5 are fixed in the channels 5 adjacent their upper ends and engage under tension against adjacent side edges of the plate I, which are relieved as at I6 to receive said springs when the channels are in normal closed position; said springs urging the channels outwardly and tending to rotate the same about cross pins 8 as an axis.

The release plate 2 is formed intermediate its end and on opposite sides with laterally opening notches l1; the upper ends I8 of said notches I! being disposed at an outward and downward slope in a lateral direction as shown, and for the purpose hereinafter described.

Cross pins I9 connect between the sides I of the channels 5 and normally seat in notches I1, and against the ends I8 thereof when pins 8 and I4 are similarly positioned in slots 9 and notches I3 respectively.

To assemble the device the plates I and 2 are spaced slightly as shown in Fig. Land the channels are-closed together, with pins 8 in the lower end of slots 9. 4 At the same time that the channels 5 are closed, the plate 2 is in such position that pins I9 engage in notches I1. Thereafter,

the plate I is forced downward relative to the,

channels and until pins 8 engage the upper ends of slots 9, which results in pins I 4 riding into 3 and 4 respectively; the eye 3 being adapted for 55 notches I3 and locking the channels 5 against outward swinging movement by springs I 5, as shown in Fig. 2. I

of slots 9 and pins I4 are clear of notches l3, 'a's -l shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3. However, ,while the tension remains on the device, pins i9 engage and tend to ride inwardly on thesloping ends I83 of notches 11, thus effectivelycontinuing,to jhdld the channels against outward swinging mo ment. I H When the load lands on the ground, the tension on the device is relieved'and immediately the"; springs [5 force the channels to swing outward,

clearing pins Hi from notches l1, whereupon plate 2, together with the load, is released from .the remainder of the device and the parachute.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that I have produced such a device as,sub.- stantially fulfills the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets present and preferred construction of the device, still in. practice such deviations'may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended'claims.

Having thus described my invention, ,what I claim as new and usefulsand desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

l. A parachute release device comprising a pair of initially separate plates disposed in alined end to end relation, and adapted for connection to the parachuteand load respectively, achannel normally straddling said plates from'oneside thereof, means pivoting said channel on one plate for lateral swinging movement to I clear the other plate, said other plate having a notch cut therein opening to the side adjacent saidchannel, a fixed pin intersecting said channel and engaging in the notch, said notch being formed so as to urge the pin inwardly and prevent its escape from the notch when the device is under the tension of the load, and means to swing said channel clear of said other plate and withdraw the pin from the notch upon landingof the loadand relief of said tension. e I

2. A parachute release device comprising a pair of initially separate elements adapted for connection to the parachuteand load=respectively, a

channel normally straddling said plates from one side thereof, means pivoting said channel on one plate for lateral swinging movement to clear the other plate, said other plate having a notch cut therein opening to the side adjacent said channel, a fixed pin intersecting said channel and engagingin the notch, said notch'being formed so as to urge the pin inwardly and prevent its escape from the notch when the device is under the tens sion of the load, and means to swing said channel clear of said other plate and withdraw the -pin from the notch upon landing of the load, and relief of said tension; said last named means comprising a leaf spring seatedin the channel and engaging the adjacent side of said one. plate.

v3. A parachute release as in claim 1 in which the pin engaging end of said notch is formed at an outward slope in a lateral, direction and.- away from said one plate. a

4. A parachute release device comprising a pair of initially separate elements disposed in end toforth in detailthe I limited. relativedownward displacement from a normal position, the upper element having a downwardly opening notch in its lower end and the lower element having a notch opening laterally in the direction of swinging movement of said member, cross pins on said member correspondn to andznormal-ly' engaged in said slots, and

:means urging the member in said lateral directionfthef-connector member being downwardly displaced and" the corresponding pin released from then'otch said upper element upon the tGI'iSlOllOf the load: being applied to the device, and said notch in the lower element being formed s'o'as to then prevent escape of the corresponding pin-therefrom and until said tension is relieved. 5. A parachute release as in claim 4 in which theupper. end of the notch in the lower element is formed at a downward. and outward slope, whereby. saidtension on the device causes the cgrresponding pin to ride into said notch.

, ,6. A parachute release device comprising a pair oiiinitiallyseparate plates disposed in adjacent end to end vertically alined relation, means at the outer ends of said plates adapted for connectionwith the parachute and load respectively, a

pair of facing channels normally straddling said plates from opposite sides of the latter, means pivoting said channels in connection with the upper plate for outward swinging movement therefrom in opposite lateral directions, and for limited relative downward movement from normal position, means tending to swing said channelsin said directions, the upper plate having transversely spaced, downwardly opening notches therein and the lower plate having laterally opening notches therein on opposite sides intermediate its ends, and cross pins mounted on said channels corresponding to and normally engaged in said notches; the lowerplate and said channels being lowered relative to the upper plate upon the tension of the load being applied to the device, the

the corresponding cross pins from said doWn-- T lt.

pins corresponding to said downwardly opening notches being then. automatically withdrawn therefrom,. and the'pins corresponding to said laterally opening slots riding the upper ends of the-lattensaid ends being arranged to prevent escape of thepins from said lateral notches until Said tension is relieved.

7. A parachute release device as in claim ,6 in which said channel pivoting means comprises fixed cross pins between opposite sides of said channels; the upper plate having longitudinally extending elongated slots through which said fixed cross pins project; said fixed cross pins normally beingdisposed in the slots a distance above thebottom thereof suflicient to permit escape of wardly opening notches upon movement of said fixed cross pins to the bottom of said slots.

8.v A parachute release device as in claim 6 in which said upper ends of the laterally opening notches in the lower plate slope downwardly and outwardly in alateral direction. 1 -9.' ,-A parachute release device as in claim 6 in which "said channel swinging means comprises leaf springs disposed in said channel below the pivotingymeans and engaging adjacent sides of theupper plate.

.--'10,- .A--parachute'release comprising a pair of initially separate elements adapted for connection to the parachute and load respectively, a connector member adapted to extend between said elements, means pivoting the member on one element for outward lateral swinging movement to clear the other element, the member and said other element having flat vertical faces normally disposed in adjacent face -to-face relation and said other element having a laterally opening notch cut therein from one edge of its flat face,

said notch opening in the direction of outward 10 load and relief of said tension.

JOSEPH LINO DE FREITAS. 

